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Passenger
It should be noted that the state first issued plates in 1906, and plates from 1906 thru 1909 were assigned to the driver rather than the vehicle. The first year that registrations were issued was 1903, done by counties and a few individual cities. To see these earlier plates, see "Pre-State".
A big thank you to Eric Tanner's "All About License Plates website for a lot of the information presented on these Passenger pages.
1950 - 1964
1950
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ Observed high: 899YH All plates measure 6" x 11" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in pairs Colors: gold on dark blue |
 From Tim Gierschick  From unknown  From Bestplates |
Not offered on this format |  From Devan Ciemiewicz |
1951
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z Observed high: H182Y All plates measure 6" x 11" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in pairs Colors: dark blue on gold |
 From Steve Ondik  From Steve Ondik  From Sarge |
Not offered on this format |  From Neil Breinig |
1952
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z Observed high: N192B Plates measure: - 1001 - 9ZZ99: 6" x 11" - 00AA - P999Z: 6" x 10 1/4" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: gold on dark blue |
 (6" x 11") From Shane Oake  (6" x 11") From platedog  (6" x 10 1/4") From Drew Steitz  (6" x 10 1/4") From Eric Tanner |
Not offered on this format |  (6" x 11") From John Willard  (6" x 10 1/4") From Worthpoint |
1953
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z - D00A0 - P99Z9 Observed high: D99D1 All plates measure 6" x 10 1/4" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: dark blue on gold |
 From Ed Burr  From Kettering Enterprises  From Steve Ondik  From Mike Alfonse |
Not offered on this format |  From Jeff Hinkle  From platedog |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Plates known with fewer than 4 characters. The following formats have been observed for this year: 000, A00, 0A0, 00A, AA0, 0AA, and A0A. This is a non-standard format, and possibly a reserved series for VIPs. |
 From Ed Burr  From Ed Burr  From Ed Burr  From Ed Burr |
1954
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z - D00A0 - P99Z9 Observed high: M51B7 All plates measure 6" x 10 1/4" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: gold on dark blue |
 From Tim Gierschick  From Shane Oake  From Tim Gierschick |
Not offered on this format |  From Chuck Sakryd |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Plates known with fewer than 4 characters. The following formats have been observed for this year: 000, A00, 0A0, 00A, AA0, 0AA, and A0A. This is a non-standard format, and possibly a reserved series for VIPs. |
 From Jeff Lesher  From Ed Burr  From Ned Flynn  From Jonathan Ortmann |
1955
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z - D00A0 - P99Z9 - D0A00 - P9Z99 Observed high: K4Y33 All plates measure 6" x 10 1/4" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: dark blue on gold |
 From Tim Gierschick  From Steve Ondik  From unknown  From John McDevitt |
Not offered on this format |  From Devan Ciemiewicz  From Jeff Francis |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Plates known with fewer than 4 characters. The following formats have been observed for this year: 000, A00, 0A0, 00A, AA0, 0AA, and A0A. This is a non-standard format, and possibly a reserved series for VIPs. |
 From Tim Gierschick  From Jeff Hinkle  From Ed Burr |
1956
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - D000A - P999Z - D00A0 - P99Z9 - D0A00 - P9Z99* - AT10 - ZW999* ("T" and "W" only) - 1AT0 - 9ZW99* ("T" and "W" only) Observed high: 8MW81 *Later plates have 1957 dies, see asterisks in serial ranges above. For serial format "D0A00 - P9Z99", highest number observed with 1956 dies is "J2R93", lowest number observed with 1957 dies is "K6C16". All plates measure 6" x 12", the national standard implemented this year Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: gold on dark blue |
 From Tim Gierschick  From Worthpoint  From Ned Flynn  (1957 dies, see notes) From Clayton Moore |
Not offered on this format |  From Chuck Sakryd  (Test plate) From Devan Ciemiewicz |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Plates known with fewer than 4 characters. The following formats have been observed for this year: 000. This is a non-standard format, and possibly a reserved series for VIPs. |
 From Jeff Lesher |
1957
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: - 1001 - 99999 - A100 - Z9999 ("B100" follows "A9999", etc.) - 1A00 - 9Z999 ("1A000" follows "9A99", etc.) - 10A0 - 99Z99 ("10A00" follows "99A9", etc.) - 000A - 999Z9 ("100A0" follows "999A") - 0000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 1AA0 - 9ZZ99 ("1AA00" follows "9AA9", etc.) - 00AA - 99ZZ9 ("10AA0" follows "99AA", etc.) - 000AA - 999ZZ - 100000 - 999999 Observed high: 883831 All plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: dark blue on gold |
 From Bob Connison  From Tim Gierschick  From Peter Clericuzio  From Worthpoint  (Thinner dies to fit 6 characters) From Jeff Hinkle |
Not offered on this format |  From unknown |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Plates known with fewer than 4 characters. The following formats have been observed for this year: 000. This is a non-standard format, and possibly a reserved series for VIPs. |
 From Jeff Lesher |
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DIFFERENT DIES There are several variations in dies for the "100000 - 999999" format, see captions to the right. |
(Dies used for most all other formats) From Peter Clericuzio ("3" has flat top) From Jeff Hinkle  (Bottom of "5" does not curl) From Jeff Lesher  (Bottom of "5" curls) From Pl8source.com  ("3" has curved top) From Corb Moister via Eric Tanner |
1958 - 1964
| Notes | Number Plate | Personalized Plate | Sample Plate |
|
Serial formats: (No I, O, Q, T, W, or X used) GENERAL ISSUE - 100-000 - 999-999 - A00-000 - Z99-999 - 000-00A - 999-99Z - 0A0-000 - 9Z9-999 Observed high: 0H7-025 RESERVE SERIES (No fee) - 1001 - 99999 - A000 - Z9999 - 000A - 9999Z - AA10 - ZZ999 - 10AA - 999ZZ Observed high: 28DR Early plates had a tab slot at upper-right. The original plan was to use metal tabs for revalidation but by the time adhesive paper stickers were decided on, a batch of plates had already been made with the tab slot. - Highest number observed with tab slot: U92-380 - Lowest number observed without tab slot: U95-380 (All known Reserve Series plates have tab slot) Most plates were made of aluminum but some plates were made of steel. - Observed range in steel: 608-69L - 980-98L Most plates had blue backs but some plates had gold backs. Observed ranges for gold backs: - 9F1-141 - 3G4-746 - 4G1-748 - 4G5-520 (blue backs) - 5G2-050 - 0H7-025 All plates measure 6" x 12" Manufactured in Pennsylvania prisons Issued in singles Colors: gold on dark blue |
 From Drew Steitz  From Steve Ondik  (Reserve series) From Steve Ondik  (Reserve series) From Steve Ondik |
Not offered on this format |  From Steve Ondik |